3 gold panners up for murdering Mudzi villager

Zim Now Writer

Three gold panners from Mudzi, who last month allegedly killed a villager following a misunderstanding over opaque beer were nabbed at the weekend while hiding in a forest.

Brothers Clever, 24, and Trymore Mudzengerere, 22, and Freddy Gireya, all of Chamburuka Village, under Chief Chikwizo, were arraigned before Mutoko magistrate Elijah Sibanda facing a murder charge.

They were remanded in custody to February 6.

The State opposed bail arguing that the accused persons were a flight risk since they had been on the run after committing the crime.

Prosecuting, Nathan Majuru said, on December 26 last year, the trio had a misunderstanding with Tungamirai Munyangwa over opaque beer.

Clever reportedly struck Munyangwa with a beer bottle and he fell down after which Trymore and Gireya joined in and assaulted him further by trampling him on the neck and head.

He died on the spot and the trio fled from the scene.

They retreated to gold panning sites in the forests of Mudzi until January 21 when police raided their hideout.